AIR FORCE GROUNDS NEW HELICOPTERS AFTER ‘ SEVERE BUMP’

The Royal Canadian Air Force has grounded its fleet of CH-148 Cyclone helicopters after one of the naval choppers encountered a “severe bump” during a training flight — the latest delay in a project years behind its original delivery date. Col. Peter Allan, commander at the 12 Wing Shearwater air base in Halifax, said the problem corrected itself during a descent on March 9 and the pilot safely landed the aircraft with no damage. However, the glitch prompted a freeze on flying as of March 12, and the Air Force is investigating with the help of aircraft manufacturer Sikorsky. The Air Force also temporarily grounded the Cyclones in January to check for potential tail rotor problems following an incident on a North Sea oil platform involving a civilian version of the helicopter.